NORTH POLE–From North Pole, Alaska to Christmas Cove, Maine to Christmas, Fla. and to Donner Lake, Calif., credit unions across the country have done much this holiday season to bring cheer and goodwill toward men (and women and children and even their pets).
Below is a look at some of what credit unions have done to belong on the Nice list:
No Sleigh, But 2 Vans
In Fort Washington, Penn., TruMark Financial Credit Union provided two vans’ worth of children’s toys for patients at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.
The credit union held a toy drive hoping to lift the patients’ spirits and spread a little cheer during the holiday season. Having toys to play with helps with the healing process and challenges of hospitalization, the credit union said.
TruMark Financial’s Justin McNulty and the Malvern branch team led the charge by raising $1,100 to purchase gifts in addition to those donated by other team members and credit union members who brought gifts into the branches. The credit union also made a monetary donation to assist the hospital with its community initiatives.
And That’s a Wrap
In Albany, N.Y., Broadview FCU raised more than $200,000 to purchase and wrap gifts that were donated to more than 95 nonprofit organizations in the New York’s Capital Region, as well as Buffalo, Binghamton, and Syracuse. Those groups are then distributing them to more than 6,500 individuals in need, the CU said.
Broadview FCU, which is the new brand for the merged CAP COM CU and SEFCU, said its “Holiday Sharing Program” reflects decades of “time-honored programs to spread the spirit of the season and support thousands of individuals and families with necessities as well as special gifts for children, veterans, seniors, and families” by both CUs.
The annual Holiday Sharing Program is funded by Broadview along with donations from employees and members, both in branches and online, that are used to provide people and families with presents and essentials, including warm clothing, cookware, cleaning supplies, and toiletries, the credit union said.
Helping Eight Families
In Tampa, Fla., GTE Financial Credit Union helped fulfill the holiday wish lists of eight member families through its Make Hope Real initiative for the ninth consecutive year.
According to the credit union, Make Hope Real is an internal philanthropic effort to help families in need during the holiday season. With eight local families selected and 38 recipients, GTE Financial said it “fulfills each chosen member's wish list to ensure each family has a special and memorable holiday season.”
Items on the wish lists included clothes, groceries, toys for their little ones, and more.
GTE Financial said the Make Hope Real initiative celebrates the credit union's mission of people helping people, and that its employees wrap each gift and deliver them in time for the holidays.
GTE members' families were selected by submitting their personal stories and Christmas lists on GTE’s website during the submission process.
You Better Be Good, You Better Be Nice
Staff at Allied Federal Credit Union in Arlington, Texas donated $500 to the Arlington Police Department’s “Santa Cops” program. “Santa Cops” works alongside Arlington Independent School District to locate children in need, buy them gifts and throw a Christmas party for their families.
The donation was part of the Credit Union’s Casual for a Cause program.
Allied FCU said its Casual for a Cause program empowers an employee committee to choose different local causes to support each month. Then, employees donate to the cause in exchange for dressing casual at work. The employee committee chose “Santa Cops” as November’s cause because they wanted all children to experience a joy-filled holiday.
What Never Melts
In Eau Claire, Wis., after partnering with the Salvation Army for the Giving Never Melts Away toy drive during November, Royal Credit Union collected more than 650 toys and raised more than $500.
Royal said it values making a difference in the communities they serve and knows credit union Members appreciate the opportunity to help their neighbors and bring smiles to children at the holidays.
The Salvation Army collected the toys and monetary donations from all 26 Royal offices and distributed them locally to the communities that Royal serves.
Hand-Delivered Baskets
American Eagle Financial Credit Union in East Hartford, Conn., continued its tradition of spreading holiday cheer throughout its service area by hand-delivering baskets with holiday treats, gifts and complimentary tickets for American Eagle’s Magic of Lights to patients and care staff at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Yale Children's Hospital.
AEFCU also delivered baskets with complimentary tickets for 2022 Bright Nights at Forest Park to staff and families staying at Ronald McDonald House of Springfield and pediatric patients and care staff at Baystate Children’s Hospital.
AEFCU is sponsoring American Eagle’s Magic of Lights, a holiday light experience taking place at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, and the 2022 Bright Nights at Forest Park, a Hampden County-based holiday light experience presented by the City of Springfield and Spirit of Springfield.
12 Days of Giving (on Instagram)
During the holiday season First Entertainment Credit Union in Los Angeles is sponsoring the “12 Days of Giving!” Instagram sweepstakes. Through Dec. 23rd, First Entertainment said will be giving away a prize each day on its Instagram Stories.
The prizes being given away include tickets to the Grammy Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Universal Studios, a Warner Bros. Studio Tour, to cash, an Apple watch, and gift cards. One winner will be randomly selected each day and announced on First Entertainment’s Instagram Stories.
CU, Football Players Take Kids Shopping
Associated CU Helps to UGA Football Players Take 16 Kids Christmas Shopping
In the Peach State, two University of Georgia football players joined with Associated Credit Union and Dick’s Sporting Good to take 16 young students shopping for Christmas.
The event gave each student a $300 Associated Credit Union holiday gift card to use on any merchandise in Dick’s Sporting Goods. The trip was coordinated by Everett Sports Marketing (ESM), which represents both players—tight end Brock Bowers and cornerback Malaki Starks– in name, image, likeness (NIL) deals, including their NIL deal with Associated Credit Union.
Bowers and Starks helped the students pick out shoes, toys, and clothes.
Toy Drive is Sponsored
In Illinois, Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) hosted a toy drive in partnership with Alpha Media to benefit the U.S. Marine Corp.’s Toys-For-Tots. Drop off bins were placed at all 13 GLCU branches as well as corporate headquarters and their member contact center.
In addition to collecting toys at its branches, GLCU hosted two community events to encourage final donations from the community and their southern and northern branches.
Stocking Stuffers
In addition to all of the above, CUToday.info has also reported on the following credit unions that have paid on member bonuses and year-end dividends:
- Wright-Patt Credit Union in Beavercreek, Ohio said it is paying an $11 Million Special Patronage Dividend this year, the largest in its history. The individual payouts are dependent upon relationships with the CU, with WPCU saying members can earn $15 just by having a debit card, using online or mobile banking, or having e-statements.
- In North Carolina, Fort Bragg FCU said it is paying $1 million to members as part of a “Loyalty Dividend,” bringing to $3.775 million the total it has paid out over the last five years. Payouts are based on deposit and loan relationships with the credit union, with some members receiving up to $500, FBFCU said.
- In Peoria, Ill., a $20-million Extraordinary Dividend is being paid out by CEFCU. Over the last 21 years, CEFCU said it has returned $380 million in Extraordinary Dividends to members.
- In Tennessee, Eastman Credit Union members will share in a $15 million Extraordinary Dividend. The payout will bring the total it has paid out since 1998 to $177 million returned to members since it began in 1998. We are excited to return this money to our members. This announcement is a direct result of our members’ loyalty, our employees' hard work, and our board's leadership," said Kelly Price, ECU's president and CEO.
- Panama City, Fla.-based Tyndall FCU, which paid out $13.7 million to more than 70,000 qualifying members.
- Tullahoma, Tenn.-based Ascend Federal Credit Union, which is returning $5 million to members in the form of bonus dividend payments, loan interest refunds and reward payments for loyal debit card use.
- Racine Wis.–based Educators Credit Union, which returned a record $5.1 million with its 2022 “Member Loyalty” payout.
- Midland, Mich.-based Dow Credit Union has announced a Member Giveback for 2022 of $14 million.